Archive for the '2007 08' Tag Under 'Lakers' Category

Lakers center Andrew Bynum has not been cleared for full practices or contact drills after he was examined by a knee specialist, the club announced Thursday afternoon.Bynum saw New York-based specialist Dr. David Altchek, who said in a release that "This should not be seen as a setback in any way.

Andrew will continue with his therapy program and workouts with the Lakers' training staff and will continue to be monitored until he can return to playing status."

However, it now appears that the club will focus on getting Bynum available for the first round of the playoffs at the earliest.

Bynum has been out since he suffered a bone bruise and briefly dislocated left kneecap on Jan.13.

The club held out hope that he would be able to play one or two regular season games. Coach Phil Jackson had even left open the possibility, however slim, on Tuesday that Bynum might be able to practice Saturday and be available Sunday.

The Lakers' woes in the Rose Garden continued with a 112-103 loss to Portland on Tuesday night.The Lakers rallied short and lost their sixth consecutive game and 12th out of the past 14 games in the venue. It was costly.

New Orleans fell to Utah, meaning the Lakers let slip an opportunity to close the gap on the Hornets for the top seed in the Western Conference. The Lakers remain 1 1/2 games behind New Orleans and slipped into third, half a game behind idle San Antonio, with four games remaining.

The Lakers are also just one game ahead of Phoenix, winners against Memphis, in the Pacific Division.

Brandon Roy shook off a nasty foul to finish with 23 points and 12 assists. His 3-point play with 44.8 seconds remaining gave Portland a 107-101 lead and the Trailblazers held on.

Kobe Bryant led all scorers with 34 points. He single-handedly outscored Portland, 10-0 in a sequence in the third quarter.

Friday's game between the Lakers and New Orleans is looming larger with Kobe Bryant and Chris Paul seemingly running head-to-head in the MVP race.Both players are putting up fantastic statistics, but the unofficial rule that the player with the best team gets the nod. Coach Phil Jackson confirmed that before Tuesday's game.

"I think winning the West is probably the most important thing," Jackson said. "It's going to have a big influence."

The Lakers entered Tuesday 1 1/2 games behind New Orleans for the top seed in the West. They will meet at Staples Center.

Just wanted to drop a note that I'll be on leave till the end of the regular season for the birth of my second child. Phil Jackson and I had a humorous exchange about it Friday night during his pregame press gathering in which I noted how I'd covered every game to date and would be back for the playoffs -- and he said: "No one's questioning your valor."

A dreary, rainy afternoon didn't leave the Lakers in much of a mood to discuss their recent woes in the Rose Garden, where they will attempt to break a five-game losing streak in the venue against Portland on Tuesday.Coach Phil Jackson playfully suggested the media write about something else.

But Kobe Bryant was considerably chatty on other topics when a small group of reporters met him after practice.

Bryant said he is in favor of the NBA seeding teams 1-16 for the playoffs, particularly given the disparity between the bunched Western Conference and the weaker Eastern Conference.

"It would make for a more exciting playoff matchup," Bryant said. "You might have a team like Golden State, which is an exciting team to watch, out of the playoffs. Denver, with Carmelo Anthony and AI, out of the playoffs. They have very, very good records. You look at the East and some teams have, like, 30 wins and will be in the playoffs.

The latest phase of the Lakers resurgence took shape with a breakout game from Vladimir Radmanovic and a typical finish from Kobe Bryant.Radmanovic matched a season high with 21 points and equaled a career-high 14 rebounds while Bryant scored 21 of his 29 points in the second half as the Lakers defeated Sacramento, 114-92, on Sunday night at Arco Arena.

After reaching a low point with back-to-back losses to Charlotte and Memphis, the Lakers have won four in a row. They remain 1 1/2 games behind New Orleans for first in the Western Conference and are tied with San Antonio for second.

Bryant, defended by usual antagonist Ron Artest, had eight points in the first half but exploded for 16 in the third quarter when the Lakers began with a 14-4 run.

His 3-pointer with 2:40 remaining made it 110-86. Bryant shot 9 of 15 from the field.

Radmanovic scored all his 21 points in the first three quarters. He sank a 3-pointer at the end of the first quarter and pushed the lead to 79-62 at the end of the third quarter to give the Lakers a 87-69 lead.

LOS ANGELES -- Just thought it was worth mentioning given how much Kobe Bryant gets killed by critics when he overdoes stuff (and he does overdo stuff sometimes, no doubt).

Part of the reason the Lakers just beat the Mavericks was because Bryant had the restraint to do the simple, best thing when double-teamed way out on the perimeter by Dallas. He gave the ball up instead of overdribbling to break the traps, and he also made really good decisions on which target to select (usually Lamar Odom) in giving the ball up.

"You have Paul (Gasol) and Lamar who both could make plays," Bryant said. "So it gets very, very difficult for teams to trap me the way that they used to. They want to run out and trap me at halfcourt, we'll make them pay."

Another subtle element of control worth noting given how much attention Bryant's league-leading 15 technical fouls have gotten: He kept a lid on the bubbling fury in this game (unlike Josh Howard, who did get T'd up for winging his headband Smush Parker-style).

Bryant, one technical foul away from an NBA suspension, was called for a foul by referee Zach Zarba late in the third quarter and discreetly waggled a finger in disagreement and said a few words. A few moments later, Bryant was bumped off a rebound by Howard and glared twice at referee Michael Smith. Then Bryant was called seconds later for a blocking foul by Smith but refrained from arguing at length.

LOS ANGELES – The Lakers are 6-0 this season with three players scoring at least 20 points, which is a testament to their excellence when they have more than Kobe Bryant lighting it up. Pau Gasol is around, and Andrew Bynum will be back for the playoffs, but it's a lot easier to get three guys at the 20-point mark if Lamar Odom can get there.

Odom erupted for a brilliant 31-point game to lift the Lakers to a come-from-behind victory over Dallas. Neither Odom nor the Lakers were overly frustrated by Dirk Nowitzki's outstanding 27-point effort with a brace on his left ankle.

Odom's fake-pass to Gasol and right-handed layup was followed by Odom's perfect pass for Gasol's 3-point play and 108-106 Lakers lead with 40.8 seconds left. Then the floor was opened up for Bryant to get fouled next time down after Sasha Vujacic atoned for an earlier mistake by stealing the ball from Nowitzki in help defense for Gasol.

FARMAR CLOSES

Jordan Farmar had another brain lock late in a quarter – this time fouling with two seconds left in the first quarter. But Farmar did better in the fourth quarter, when he finished the game instead of Derek Fisher.

LOS ANGELES -- Andrew Bynum has a bundle of curly hairs sprouting from the bottom of his chin these days. Maybe it's the start of a playoff beard for the 20-year-old.

Bynum said he will not play before the last two regular-season games and would like to get in there for a "tuneup" at that time before the postseason. But as I mentioned in my story for the Thursday paper, the Lakers are prepared to wait on Bynum's return until the playoffs. Bynum is looking more forward to what is likely a three-day layoff for the Lakers before the postseason as a time he can really gear up with proper work, rest and instruction. Bynum said he wants to "get a bunch of hard practices in" at that time.

"I want to get out there not only for myself, but to get used to playing with Pau (Gasol)," Bynum said.

I asked Phil Jackson if that alignment of Gasol moving from center to power forward to make room for Bynum is more conceivable now that center-only Bynum is nearing a return. And Jackson acknowledged he has begun working on that formation in practice -- putting Chris Mihm or DJ Mbenga at center so Gasol can play forward.